242 The Irish Nahiralist, [Sept., 



on the Roscommon side of the Suck. Of Scrophzdariaceos, the 

 Mullein ( Verbasciim Thapsus) flourished at the gravel pits, 

 and the Cow- wheat {Melampyriim prate7ise) on Tycooly bog ; 

 of ten species of Veronica noted, the only one worth men- 

 tioning is V. polita, gathered on the Galway side of the Suck. 



Two of these interesting carnivorous plants, the Bladder- 

 worts, grew in the bog-holes, both in blossom — the Com- 

 mon {Utriaclaria vulgaris) and I^esser {^U. minor) \ that 

 characteristic west coast species, U. intermedia, was not 

 found. Of their equally interesting allies, the Butterworts, 

 two species were noted — Pinguicula vulgaris, the common 

 species, and the rarer Pale Butterwort {P. lusitanica) usually 

 a mountain plant, but here growing on an old worked-out bog 

 at an elevation of only about 150 feet. The great Water Dock 

 {Rttniex Hydrolapathnm) grew with other marsh-loving species 

 on the Galway bank of the Suck. 



The native trees included both species (or varieties) of the 

 Birch {Betula pubescens and B. verrucosa) which everywhere 

 fringed the bogs, along with Willows, of which seven species 

 were noted, all common except Salix penta7idra and S. pur 

 purea. The remaining indigenous Ame7itiferoe were the Oak, 

 Alder, and Hazel. 



Orchids were well represented, and one of the prettiest and 

 most interesting sights we saw was at Doon, where, on a 

 rough piece of boggy land, sparsely dotted over with low 

 stunted fir-trees, a remarkable variety of Orchids grew 

 together. The large white or pinkish flowers of the Marsh 

 Helleborine {Epipactis pahcstris) were perhaps the most 

 conspicuous. M'Ardle found some plants in which the whole 

 flower was suffused with a rich rose-red. With it grew the 

 beautiful Bee Orchis {Ophrys apifera), and great abun- 

 dance of the Sweet-scented {Gymnade^iia conopsea), and 

 Tway-blade {Listera ovata), and in less quantity the 

 Smaller Butterfly Orchis {Habenaria bifolia), Frog Orchis 

 {H. viridis), Broad-leaved {Orchis i7tcar7iata), and Pyramidal 

 {0. pyra77iidalis). The only species found in the district 

 which were not at Doon were the Early Purple {O. 

 mascula), gathered in fruit ; the Greater Butterfly {H. 

 chlora7ithd) which was very rare, while H. bifolia was common ; 

 and lastly, the rare Bird's-nest {Neottia Nidus-avis), which 

 grew under trees at Clonbrock. 



